Now, as a manager in the third Ripken Baseball Minor League Experience, Reboulet is taking a long look at all of his players in various positions and situations. Perhaps he’s hoping to find that guy who will step up when the lights are brightest during the MLE playoff round. And maybe that’s why he’s not alarmed by his team’s 0-2 start in this year’s MLE.
“I saw a lot of good things out there from our team today, especially defensively,” Reboulet said. “Once we settle on our lineup as the playoffs approach, we’ll be fine. This camp should be about giving everyone an opportunity to shine.”
Reboulet’s team, the Rebs, is the defending MLE champion. This year’s edition got off to a rough start in the first full day of competition at MLE III at Ripken Stadium. The Rebs dropped a pair of games, falling to Kenny Gerhart’s Gerbs, 8-3, and Ben McDonald’s Big Bens, 5-2. McDonald’s club also rallied to defeat Joe Orsulak’s Slaks, 9-6, with eight runs in its final two at-bats. The Slaks won their earlier contest, 5-3, against the Gerbs as part of a rain-soaked opening day that featured a 90-minute rain delay.
The Big Bens captured the 2005 MLE crown before slipping into third place a year ago. But today they looked primed for a return to their glory days. “We’ll take ‘em as they come,” he said. “We’re not scared of anybody.”
After one Day 1, the Big Bens are alone on top at 2-0. The Gerbs and Slaks are tied at 1-1, with the Rebs sitting at 0-2. Wednesday’s game summaries follow:
Big Bens 5, Rebs 2
The 2007 MLE got off to an intense start with a matchup of the last two champions. David Korres went 3-for-3 with a pair of RBI while Steven Baxter and Michael Tranberg each went 2-for-3 to lead the Big Bens’ 11-hit attack against former Orioles pitcher Rick Krivda. The Big Bens scored four runs in the fourth inning to secure the victory.
Les Murray paced the Rebs, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Krivda pitched for both teams, striking out seven in 14 innings.
Slaks 5, Gerbs 3
In the second game of the 2007 MLE, the Slaks notched nine hits and scored five runs off of Bill Ripken to defeat the Gerbs, 5-3. The Slaks were led by Doug Ramey, who was 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Vince Maivelett also was 2-3, with Irving Burday adding a hit in two trips and 2 RBI.
The Gerbs were led by Barry Blackburn, who was 2-for-3, and Hubert Kowalewski, who went 2-for-2. They accounted for four of the Gerbs’ six hits. Ripken pitched for both teams, recording 16 strikeouts in 12 innings of work during the rain-shortened game.
Gerbs 8, Rebs 3
Two five-inning games were played following the rain delay, the first of which featured a seven-run outburst in the first three innings by the Gerbs. Greg McKenney went 1-for-1 with 2 RBI for the Gerbs, Dave Lowery was 1-for-3 with a run scored, with Don d’Ambrosi and Robert Duff each going 1-for-1 with two runs scored. Dennis Lee, Jr. took a no-hitter into the fourth and picked up the win by allowing just two hits in four innings while striking out six. Mark McGrath, Les Murray and Phil Walls each went 1-for-2 for the Rebs.
Big Bens 9, Slaks 6
The Big Bens closed the evening by scoring four runs each in the third and fourth innings to rally from a 6-1 deficit. The key blow was a three-run double by Bobby Baxter in the decisive fourth. Tom Folk pitched three strong innings, allowing one hit, to pick up the win.
Earlier in the day the players went through “Spring Training,” receiving instruction from each manager, Bill Ripken and surprise guest Mike Bordick. Four games are on the schedule for tomorrow at Ripken Stadium before the teams pack up and head to Prince George’s Stadium for two road contests on Friday.
Game Notes
